Self-inflating stable plastic figure



Jan. 4, 1955 G, MlLLER 2,698,496

SELF-INFLATING STABLE PLASTIC FIGURE Filed March 19, 1949 @ven/for.

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United States Patent O SELF-INFLATING STABLE PLASTIC FIGURE Gustave Miller, Washington, D. C.

Application March 19, 1949, Serial No. 82,383

10 Claims. (Cl. 46-90) This invention relates to a self-inating stable plastic figure, and has for an object to provide a hollow tiexible plastic figure which may be shipped or stored in a hat or rolled position, occupying a minimum of space and shipping facilities, and which, by a simple manipulation,

may be caused to inate itself to a predetermined size and a stretchable plastic exible material such as sheet rubo ber, or of a substantially non-stretchable flexible sheet material that is substantially impervious, among which are the vinyl chloride resins, either in exible sheet form, or in the form of flexible sheet materials and fabrics sufficiently impregnated with such resins or other "plastics as to be substantially impervious.

A further obect of this invention is to provide a readily replaceable self-inating means for such figures, whereby when the ligure has once been inated, it may be collapsed as for storage, and then by replacing the inating means, may again be inated and set up.

A further object of this invention is self-iniiating means for a hollow flexible plastic ligure which is so related to the ligure that it acts as a stabilizing means or weight to cause the inflated figure to remain stable in the desired position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfinflating exible plastic figure which may be made in various sizes, and which, according to its size, may use one or a plurality of self-inating and stabilizing means for both inliating the figure and stabilizing it in the desired position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfinating liexible plastic stable ligure which may be made in the form of an object having a single base or support, or

in the form of an object having a plurality of supports, the single base form having at least one self-inating stabilizing means located preferably centrally of the base, and the multi-supported gure having at least one selfinliating stabilizing means in at least one or more or all of the individual supporting means of such ligure. Thus, a bi-ped figure would have at least one such self-inating stabilizing means in the center of the bottom of each leg, and a quadru-ped would preferably have at least one such means in each of at least two of the diagonally opposite legs, or in each of the four legs. Further, more than one such means might be grouped in each leg, as in a gigantic figure representing a large horse or elephant.

A further obiect of this invention is to provide a selfinfiating stabilizing means which is preferably in the form of a compressed carbon dioxide capsule having a readiiy breakable stem or other puncturing means, which capsule is embedded in a block of plastic which is partially slit across the stem so that a breaking stress may be applied across the stem by bending the block at the slit, and then the slit acts as a mouth to direct the pressure inwardly of the figure. Alternatively, a gas generating capsule having a breakable diaphragm dividing the chemicals may be used, such capsule being of suflicient weight to act as a stabilizing means for the figure.

A further object of this invention is to provide a readily Mice replaceable pressure inflation capsule which is attached to the figure either adhesively or by being inserted between a strap means and a Valve opening in the ligure without the usual metallic valve connections, and which may be manually removed and replaced without any tools whatsoever.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view, partly broken away, of a figure toy to which this invention has been applied;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a bi-ped figure to which this invention has been applied;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a self-inflating stabilizing means replacement part;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 shows a quadruped gure involving this invention.

There is shown at 10 a conventional representation of a hollow figure toy made of a flexible plastic or plastic impregnated fabric impervious to a low pressure atmosphere therein. This figure toy has a substantially single base portion as at 11, as apparent in Fig. 2` Secured to the inner side of this base portion 11 is a plastic block 12. Embedded in this block 12 is a carbon dioxide capsule 14 having a projecting hollow stem 15, made of pewter or other readily breakable material. The block 12 is provided with a slit 16 extending downwardly from the top of the block to or slightly below the stem 15, but not all the way to the bottom of the block. Such slit 16 may be provided by placing a thin sheet of material in appropriate position in the mold in which the block is formed about the capsule, the thin sheet being of a material to which the plastic is non-adhesive, and such thin sheet may be either left in place or removed as desired.

The Figure l0 is made in any conventional manner, as by sewing, adhesively securing, or heat-sealing the several portions to form the ligure. The block 12, having the capsule 14 embedded therein, is adhesively secured to the center of the bottom portion on the inner side, which bottom portion 11 may carry on its outer side directions for inflation, as at 17. The figure 10 being empty of gas or air, may be folded or rolled into a small package for shipping or storage until delivered to the user.

When delivered to the user, the user may prepare it for use when desired by merely following the directions 17 on the bottom base portion 11, whereupon the gas will be released from the capsule and directed upwardly into the hollow figure by the mouth formed oy holding the slit 16 partly open. inasmuch as the rapid expansion of the compressed gas causes chilling, and such chilling may cause the plastic material of the ligure to become temporarily brittle, the mouth causes the expanding gas to fan out somewhat slowly and avoids any single blast at a small area. The volume of the gas in the capsule 14 is such as to provide a low pressure iust suflicient to make the figure 1li sufciently rigid as desired.

l/Vhen it is desired to collapse and store the ligure 10 for future use, it may be punctured by a knife through the bottom portion 11 along the edges of the bottom of the block 12, which, with its ruptured capsule, is discarded. When it is desired to reintiate the figure, a replacement block and capsule may be used. This replacement capsule and block is identical with that at 14 and 12. and in addition includes a sheet of plastic material 18, similar to that of the ligure, which may be provided with a tacky adhesive surface 20 adjacent its edges which is protected by holland cloth. When it is to be used, the holland cloth is peeled off, the replacement block is inserted through the opening left by cutting out the original block 12, and the tacky adhesive surface 20 is pressed down on the inside of the bottom portion 11, making it ready for use again. lnstead of using a tacky surface, such surface could be left plain, and a conventional plastic cement could be placed thereon, just before use, and allowed to dry against the inner side of the bottom 11 long enough to become impervious.

When the figure has been inflated, the ruptured capsule 14, being located substantially in the center o f the single base, serves as a stabilizing means to hold the base down and thus hold the figure upright on its base in the desired position.

In Figure 3, the invention has been shown as being applied to a bi-ped gure 40, which may be a large doll, manikin, or form such as used in stores or display windows. Each foot 41 of the bi-ped figure 40 is provided with one or more blocks and capsules so as to provide sutiicient gas to iniiate the figure to the desired rigidity, and at the same time, provide sutiicient -weight to stabilize the gure in upright position. If the figure is not too large, only a single block and capsule would be needed in each foot, while if fairly large, two or more may be used in each foot, or alternatively, a larger block and capsule may be used.

An alternate form of replaceable capsule is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this form, the bottom of the base portion, whether a single or multiple base, is provided with recess 19 on its bottom specially shaped or molded to receive a correspondingly shaped capsule container plastic block 21. As shown, the block 21 containing the capsule 14 is provided with a iiat bottom 23, a substantially vertical front wall 24 adjacent the stern 2S of the capsule, and a sloping rear wall 26. While the top wall 27 of the block is substantially iiat over its greater area, its forward area 28 may be curved downwardly slightly, as shown. The top wall 27 may be slightly wider than the bottom wall 23, thus making the side walls 29 are outwardly from bottom toward the top.

The walls of the recess 19 are shaped complementary to the walls of the block 21, and there is provided a valve opening 30 extending preferably angularly through the upper wall 31 of the recess, and there may also be provided a tiap valve member 32 overlying the valve opening 30. The block 2l is provided with a mouth Vslit 33 leading from the stem neck 34 to the valve opening 30. To removably hold the block 21 and capsule in the recess 19, there are provided a pair of straps 35 and 36 extending across the bottom of the recess 19, the straps 35 and 36 being secured to the bottom portion of the base closely adjacent the sides of the recess 19. An additional strap 37 may be provided, of a width about equal to or greater than the length of Vthe block 21, and secured to the base portion at points remote from the side walls of the recess, thus providing a supplementary, but not absolutely essential, reinforcement to the strength and stability of the base portion.

To put the block into position, it is slid into position along the sloping rear wall of the recess between such rear wall and the strap 35 until its vertical front wall 24 is stopped by abutting the complementary front wall of the recess. If the wide strap 35 is present, such may be easily folded away temporarily. To remove the block after use, when dellating the figure for storage, one merely pushes ones finger against the vertical front wall 24, and the sloping rear wall 26 will cause the block to move downwardly and outwardly of the recess. Then, to facilitate complete deiiation of the figure, a hollow tube, similar to a plastic drinking straw, for instance, may be inserted through the valve opening 30 while the figure is rolled or folded into a compact small volume, starting at the head and limbs thereof.

The complementary shapes of the block 21 and the recess 19 insure the proper placing of the block in the recess so that the slit 33 of the block will be adjacent the valve opening 30, so that, when the block is bent to break the capsule stem neck 34, the mouth formed by the open slit 33 will be directed toward the valve opening 30. The upwardly diverging sidewalls of the recess also help guide the capsule gas toward the Valve opening 30. With the valve opening 30 as shown, when the recess wall 31 is suiiiciently thick, the liap valve 32 may be unnecessary, as the internal pressure will hold the valve opening 30 closed.

While it is preferred that the weight of the emptied capsule and the block will be sutiicient to stabilize the ligure, additional weighting means may be provided, either embedded in the block or embedded in the base portion or portions of the figure, particularly if the figure is of a plastic impregnated fabric rather than merely molded plastic, and if the fabric is rather heavy, such as duck material.

In Fig. 6, a quadru-ped ligure 42 is provided with one or more blocks and capsules in each foot. If this iigure 42 is fairly small, a single capsule may be located in one front foot and in the diagonally opposite rear foot. In each case, the block and capsule will be located substantially in the center of the foot or base portion in which it is located, so as to provide maximum stabilization.

When the figure 40 is used as a manikin or clothing form, it may be made of a heavy flexible non-stretchable plastic or plastic impregnated fabric which will hold its shape substantially rigidly, thus permitting it to be draped with clothing. There is thus provided a comparatively inexpensive, readily shippable and economically storable manikin. Fairly long-lived iigure toys may be made of heavy material in the same manner.

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing constructions, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawing or described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. An inflatable stable flexible plastic hollow figure, said figure being formed of a hollow iiexible plastic sheet material having a base portion, a valve means extending through said base portion, a readily replaceable iniiating and stabilizing means externally secured on the base portion substantially at the center thereof in cooperative relationship to said valve means, said selfiniiating stabilizing means comprising a compressed gas capsule, a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, and a breakable hollow stem extending from said capsule within said block, said block having a slit extending to said stem, whereby said block may be bent at said slit to break said stem and release the compressed gas, said opened slit providing a mouth tanning out said escaping gas.

2. In combination with a liexible plastic hollow gure, a readily replaceable intiating means comprising a compressed gas capsule, a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, and a breakable hollow stem extending from said capsule within said block, said block having a slit extending from one wall thereof to said stem, whereby said block may be manually bent at said slit to break said stem and release the compressed gas, said opened slit providing a mouth fanning out the escaping gas, and a plastic sheet constituting a wall or" said hollow ligure, a valve means extending through said wall, and means for securing said block to said wall with said mouth in cooperative relationship to said valve means.

3. A stable plastic figure formed of hollow iexibie plastic sheet material, said figure having a base portion, readily replaceable means for iniiating said ligure and for weighting said base portion to stabilize said figure when inflated, said base portion being provided with a recess complementary to said inating and weighting means, valve means in a wall of said recess, strap means secured across said recess to hold said iniiating means therein in cooperative relationship to said valve means, said inflating means comprising a pressure capsule, a breakable stem extending from said capsule, and a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, said block being complementary to said base portion recess.

4. A stable plastic figure formed of hollow iiexible plastic sheet material, said ligure having a base portion, readily replaceable means for inflating said figure and for weighting said base portion to stabilize said gure when inflated, said base portion being provided with a recess complementary to said infiating and Weighting means, valve means in a wall of said recess, strap means secured across said recess to hold said iniiating means therein in cooperative relationship to said valve means, Said nflating means comprising a pressure capsule, a breakable stem extending from said capsule, and a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, said block being complementary to said base portion recess, said block having a slit extending from said capsule stem to the wall of said block that is complementary to the valve means wall of said recess.

5. A stable plastic iigure formed of hollow flexible plastic sheet material, said figure having a base portion, readily replaceable means for inliating said figure and for weighting said base portion to -stabilize said ligure when inated, said base portion being provided with a recess complementary to said inating and Welghtmg means, valve means in a wall of said recess, strap means secured across said recess to hold said inating means therein in cooperative relationship to said valve means, said inating means comprising a pressure capsule, a breakable stem extending from said capsule, and a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, said block being complementary to said base portion recess, said block having a slit extending from said capsule stem to the wall of said block that is complementary to the valve means wall of said recess, a front wall of said block being substantially vertical, a rear wall of said block being sloping, the top wall of said block being wider than the bottom wall whereby the side walls diverge upwardly.

6. A stable plastic figure formed of hollow tiexible plastic sheet material, said gure having a base portion, readily replaceable means for inating said gure and for weighting said base portion to stabilize said ligure when iniiated, said base portion being provided with a recess complementary to said inflating and weighting means, valve means in a wall of said recess, strap means secured across said recess to hold said inating means therein in cooperative relationship to said valve means, said inating means comprising a pressure capsule, a breakable stem extending from said capsule, and a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, said block being complementary to said base portion recess, said block having a slit extending from said capsule stem to the wall of said block that is complementary to the valve means wall of said recess, a front wall of said block being substantially vertical, a rear wall of said block being sloping, the top wall of said block being wider than the bottom wall whereby the side walls diverge upwardly, said strap means comprising a first strap extending under the body area of the capsule, and a second strap extending under the stem area of the capsule and spaced from the first strap.

7. A stable plastic gure formed of a hollow flexible plastic sheet material, said figure having a base portion, readily replaceable means for inflating said figure and for weighting said base portion to stabilize said figure when inated, said base portion being provided with a recess complementary to said inating and weighting means, valve means in a wall of said recess, strap means secured across said recess to hold said inating means therein in cooperative relationship to said valve means, said nating means comprising a pressure capsule, a breakable stem extending from said capsule, a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, said block being complementary to said base portion recess, said block having a slit extending from said capsule stem to the wall of said block that is complementary to the valve means wall of said recess, a front wall of said block being substantially vertical, a rear wall of said block being sloping, the top wall of said block being wider than the bottom wall whereby the side walls diverge upwardly, said strap means comprising a tirst strap extend ing under the body area of the capsule, a second strap extending under the stem area of the capsule and spaced from the rst strap, said rst and second straps being secured adjacent side walls of said recess, and a third strap extending across the entire block area and secured to the base portion remotely from the recess.

8. A plastic ligure formed of hollow exible plastic sheet material, readily replaceable means for intiating said figure, a portion of said iigure being provided with a recess complementary to said inflating means, valve means in a wall of said recess, strap means secured across said recess to hold said inating means therein in cooperative relationship to said valve means, said inating means comprising a pressure capsule, a breakable stem extending from said capsule, a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, said block being complementary to said recess, said block having a slit extending from said capsule stem to the wall of said block that is complementary to the valve means wall of said recess, a front wall of said block being substantially vertical, a rear wall of said block being sloping, the top wall of said block being wider than the bottom wall whereby the said walls diverge upwardly.

9. In combination with readily replaceable inating means, a hollow exible plastic ligure having a portion provided with a recess, valve means in a wall of said recess and strap means secured across said recess to hold said inating means therein in cooperative relationship to said valve means, said inilating means comprising a pressure capsule, a breakable stem extending from said capsule, a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, said block being complementary to and receivable within the recess, said block having a slit extending from said capsule stem to the wall of said block that is complementary to the valve means wall of said recess.

10. In combination with readily replaceable inating means, a hollow exible plastic figure having a portion provided with a recess, valve means in a wall of said recess and strap means secured across said recess to hold said inilating means therein in cooperative relationship to said valve means, said inflating means comprising a pressure capsule, a breakable stern extending from said capsule, a plastic block in which said capsule is embedded, said block being complementary to and receivable within the recess, said block having a slit extending from said capsule stem to the wall of said block that is complementary to the valve means wall of said recess, a front wall of said block being substan tially vertical, a rear wall of said block being sloping, the top wall of said block being wider than the bottom wall whereby the side Walls diverge upwardly.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,469,188 Moore Sept. 25, 1923 1,566,858 Guinzburg Dec. 22, 1925 1,609,362 Jones Dec. 7, 1926 1,634,189 Henry June 28, 1927 2,097,542 Wallin Nov. 2, 1937 2,118,165 Christopher et al May 24, 1938 2,128,423 Manson Aug. 30, 1938 2,169,142 Stebbing Aug. 8, 1939 2,202,225 Murray et al May 28, 1940 2,378,924 Honegger et al. June 26, 1945 

